Trouble

It was nearing twilight. The world was slowly becoming dark, and three new beds had somehow found themselves into Aria's bedroom without anyone noticing.

Carlos said he was asleep the time it was taken inside, so he hadn't noticed their transport at all. And Lancell, who had just returned from his discussion with Arthur, just wanted rest already.

He had been tired by the many events of today, and his body was heavy. Of course, his body was fine. But his mind was exhausted from all the emotional swings he had.

Now that it was finally time to rest—as he was sure Aria would wake them up deep in the night—he wanted to give his mind a break.

'Yeah. Leave worries for later.' Lancell thought irresponsibly.

And just when he was going to close his eyes, the doors of the room suddenly opened with a bang as Aria entered. Lancell ignored the ruckus, but what she said was impossible to ignore.

"Lancell! Aria got in a fight with the Crown Prince!!"

A shitty day indeed.

◇◇◇

About an hour ago...

Arthur, who had gotten lost continued to wander around. She was hoping to find someone for directions. Although the pointlessly wide hallways and its maze-like structure was getting on her nerves, she continued on and kept walking.

As she walked, she suddenly noticed a room with its door open. It was open, so it had to have people, right? So Arthur went inside asking as she entered, "Helloo?" she called out. "Anybody here?"

Then, a sound of crashing books resounded. "Who's there!" a male's voice suddenly rang out. "I do not recall giving anyone permission for entry!!"

Arthur ignored the angry tone and said. "Oh! Someone's here!" She then shouted back. "Excuse me! Can I ask something?"

Hurried footsteps reverberated as a young man soon appeared from behind a bookshelf. His face wore the grumpy expression, and he then pointed at Arthur. "You! Who are you and whose permission did you enter?!" he question with hostility.

Arthur frowned. "The hell's with you, dude?"

"Who are you calling 'dude'?! Do you know who I am?!" the young man yelled.

"So you're a girl? I didn't quite know that."

The young man fumed in anger as he shouted. "Duel! I demand a duel! You lowly servant!"

A nerve bulged in Arthur's forehead when she heard the word 'servant'. She raised her chin in defiance to the arrogant young man and answered.

"Alright! Bring it on, girly!"

◇◇◇

In the duel grounds.

Lancell had just arrived at the scene, but the sound of steel clashing with steel entered his hearing. Along with it was the sound of air being ripped, the sound of the earth cracking, and sound of people yelling. And Lancell recognized the owner of one voice.

"Huh?! That all you got, you pussy?!" she insulted.

Another voice defied. "Coward! Stop evading my attacks and fight fairly!"

"You call that an attack?! Your swordsmanship instructor must be crying right now, huh?!"

"Don't you dare insult teacher!!"

Lancell rushed ahead as he listened to the exchange. From what it seemed, Arthur didn't know who the crown prince was. She was vulgarly bullying the poor guy with her superior experience and skill in cursing and dissing.

When Lancell finally saw them, he was stupefied. Arthur was picking her nose as she effortlessly evaded a strike from a young man's rapier, and then landed a kick in his butt. The young man was thrown 2 meters forward, stumbling as he fell.

"You damn servant! Have you no pride?!"

"Pride? What's that? Is it tasty?" Arthur retorted as she sent another kick in the poor prince's bum after disappearing and reappearing behind him.

The crown prince's state was too pitiful to look at. His clothes was torn everywhere, and he was covered in dirt. Still, he continued to fight as he seemed to be a prideful one. Coincidentally, it was the kind of people Arthur hated. And right now, her grin indicated she was enjoying the situation.

The crown prince stood as he raised his rapier once more. He then went into a stance opted for stabbing, and lunged forward as his face showed his determination to strike her down.

Arthur scoffed at his slow attack as she twisted her body, and grabbing him in the neck as he passed by, and used his momentum to throw him away.

"Oh come on! This couldn't be all you had right? And here I thought you were better than this. Is your arrogance only within your head?"

Lancell raised a brow at her words. He had heard those words before, and it was when he was still training under her.

("Nostalgic?") Arkenvalle suddenly asked in their connection as she felt what Lancell was thinking.

("Yeah.") Lancell affirmed. ("By the way...") He then called out.

("Did you finish observing Arthur?") Lancell asked.

("No. But I'm seeing a lot from this battle.") She answered, which piqued Lancell's curiosity.

("You're learning how to fight?") Lancell asked with surprise.

Arkenvalle paused for a while. (". . . Half-right.")

("I see.") Lancell didn't question further. If she didn't tell him, there should be a reason so. And he didn't want to force her. After all, they were partners. Equal to each other.

Lancell shifted his attention back to the battle. It seemed to be wrapping up now. Lancell hadn't intervened as it seemed to be a duel, but Arthur's words affirmed his conjecture.

"Well? Feel like giving up, girly?" She insulted at the prince who had already hadn't enough energy to stand.

"...Silence...wench..." He continued to bark back, and it seemed he learned a new word for insult too.

Lancell knew it was his cue, so he walked into the duelling grounds, and intervened. "That's enough."

Arthur looked at Lancell in surprise. "Oh hey, Lancell! You're finally here."

"He's already lost. Leave him alone."

"I...haven't lost yet...!...mind your tongue...commoner!" the prince retorted Lancell's words, but Lancell harrumphed at him.

"No. You lost. If she ever wanted to kill you right now, she easily could. And if that's not loss, then you don't know what fights are."

"She will not...kill me...she can't..."

"No, she can. And she can get away with it too."

"..." The prince went silent. He seemed to have taken his words seriously. His entire body relaxed as he unconsciously thought the battle over, and the next thing, he passed out.

Lancell heaved a sigh as he turned to Arthur. "I'll hear your excuses later."

Indeed. It would be for later. The reason being...

"What is happening here?!" An enraged voice suddenly rang from nearby as Lancell looked at where it came from, and bowed.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty. Please let me explain the matter."

...the king had arrived at the scene.